Zambian judge acquits 2 men in homosexuality case

Colin Stewart is a 45-year journalism veteran living in Southern…

Zambia's location in southern Africa — Zambia’s location in southern Africa

Two Zambian men have been acquitted of homosexuality-related charges.

In March 2014, Jacob Botha, 36, a teacher, and Jackson Lungu, 22, a casual worker, were arrested and pleaded not guilty of the charges. Their trial was scheduled to being in April 2014.

Media reports claimed that the men had been “living as husband and wife” for three years.

The men were acquitted April 10 after the magistrate found numerous inconsistencies in the facts around the case, the Southern Africa Litigation Centre reported.

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The Penal Code of Zambia calls for a prison sentence of from 15 years to life for having “carnal knowledge of any person against the order of nature,” including permitting “a male person to have carnal knowledge of him or her against the order of nature.”